Knockoff and letback means for looms



Dec. 22, 1953 w. J. BUDZYNA ETAL KNOCKOFF AND LETBACK MEANS FOR LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1951 D c- 1953 w. J. BUDZYNA ET AL 2,663,328

KNOCKOFF AND LETBACK MEANS FOR LOOMS Filed June 50, 1951 3 Sheets- Sheet 5 BY WALDO H. BAN/ 5 A TTORAEY Patented Dec. 22,1953

KNOCKOFF AND LETBACK MEANS FOR LOOMS Walter J. Budzyna, East Douglas, and Waldo H. Banks, Hopedale, Mass, assignors to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application June 30, 1951, Serial No. 234,564

- 14 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in knockoff and fabric letback means for looms.

It is a general object of the invention to improve the combined knockoff and fabric letback mechanism as applicable to looms for weavin and also to improve the independent efficacy of each of these sub-combinations of the complete mechanism.

It is a specific object of the invention to devise a simple and effective loom knockoff mechanism which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which shall operate over relatively long periods of time with very little need of attention or maintenance.

It is a further specific object of the invention to improve letback means forsuch looms so that the same may function with a minimum of additional mechanism and automatically upon knocking off the loom, also, to govern the extent to which the fabric is let back within limits provided for by the design of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to devise loom knockoff means which shall function preferably, but not necessarily, from a center fork type of weft feeling mechanism and which shall serve to release the knockoff lever by means of which the power is disconnected through simple and effective means which is reset upon the first rearward movement of the lay of the loom.

It is a further object of the invention to devise knockoff means which shall serve to perform its initial function in stopping the loom, but which shall be so devised that it need not be completely reset until after the loom is started, and furthermore, shall not interfere with the starting of the loom, for example, shall not tend to pull the handle from the loom operator's hand at restarting.

It is a further object of the invention so to tie in the letback control with, the knockoff means that upon starting the loom a stop pawl for the fabric takeup'ratcheting means is immediately reset thereby to keep tension on the fabric, although the takeup feed or advancing pawl need not be reset until the loom has started and the lay has made a first movement in the rearward direction.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following more detailed disclosure.

In looms for weaving it is customary to provide knockoff means which serves to initiate stopping of the loom, preferably by disconnecting the source of power and applying a brake to accelerate the stopping function. Such mechanism is dependent upon or functions in accordance with indications taken from a filling feeling or sensing mechanism, for example, the commonly employed center fork mechanism such as is in and of itself well known to those skilled in this art. These knockoff means have taken several different forms, but in many instances have entailed a certain amount of complication which has not been desired, and in many instances, involve settings which are relatively critical and which necessitate more service than is desired.

While the letback of the fabric has heretofore been provided to occur'automatically as the loom is knocked off or stopped, the mechanisms provided therefor have likewise involved considerable complication and, in some instances, have not served as satisfactorily as may have been desired.

According to the invention as will be described hereinafter in greater detail, a center fork mechanism of known construction, but which may preferably take somewhat the form shown in copending application Serial No. 109,036, filed August 6, 1949, now United States Patent 2,647,545, serves to position a moving actuator carried by the lay to assume different pathways according to whether or not the filling present as" intended. If filling is present in each pick as intended and the center fork, following its intended design, indicates that condition, the moving actuator will always travel forwardly with the lay in a pathway in which it fails to engage any of the interconnecting linkage therefrom to a knockoff lever. However, in the event filling is not present as intended, that is, if the filling breaks or is improperly positioned or tensioned within the shed, the center fork mechanism in a manner well known to those conversant with the weaving art, will cause the moving actuator to assume a different pathway, one in which it does interfere with and cause a predetermined movement of the interconnecting linkage which in turn affects the knockoff lever to cause the same to stop the loom.

The fabric takeup function is normally effected through gearing and ratcheting means for rotating said gearing todrive a takeup roll or other pulling mechanism over which the fabric is guided. As the loom is stopped, the ratcheting function is automatically discontinued and the ratchet wheel freed so that the same will, under the tension in the fabric, rotate reversely, while governed by certain controlling means for limiting the letback function. This retrograde movement may be definitely limited to a predetermined angular extent. The controlling means for limiting the reverse movement of the ratcheting means is of very simple nature and may be so adjusted as to limit that letback function to a reasonable number of ratchet wheel teeth up to a fair maximum such as may serve satisfactorily for weaving most materials.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, the invention will be described in detail, reference being made to the various parts as illustrated in the aid figures, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view taken from the left hand side of the loom and showing in a general manner the relationship of the various parts entering into the combination.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the loom showing the same mechanism as shown in Fig. 1, a part thereof being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation showing part of the mechanism of Fig. 1 and the position which the same occupies when the loom has been stopped.

tain parts just as the loom has been restarted.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing to an en .larged scale the letback controlling pawl.

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing in detail one part of the interconnecting means between the moving actuator and knockoff lever of the loom, the parts being shown in different extreme positions which they may occupy.

Fig. 6 is a view of the mechanism of Fig. 5, but as seen from the front of the loom.

Now referring to Figs. 1 and 2, enough of a loom has been illustrated to show the relationship and association of the parts involved. A loomside It has been cut away at one part to show what is at the opposite side, and the important parts involved include among others a ratchet wheel H by means of which the gearing for the takeup roll is advanced, said wheel being rotatable with a shaft l2 extending through certain appropriate bearings (not shown). This ratchet wheel is advanced by a pawl It pivoted at I4 at the upper end of a two-armed lever it which is pivoted on the shaft l2 and which extends downwardly at arm [6 to have connected thereto at a pivot ll one end of an adjustable link it) by means of which the said pawl and arm are oscillated to and fro.

This link i8 is reciprocated by means of a crank mechanism It, although any type of eccentric means may be employed and it is contemplated that the said crank or eccentric be adjust able as to its eccentricity thereby to make longer or shorter the throw of the link i8, although the same advantages may be realized by fixing the pivot H for the opposite end of the link in a slot in the lower arm 16 of the pawl oscillating lever so that the effective length of that arm -may be Varied as desired. The length of the link to the loomside H] as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2, the said casing having an extending bracket portion 2 3 formed into a pad by means of which a connection with the loomside is made. The shaft 2! is driven through a gear 26 from other parts of the loom not necessary of descrip- 4 tion here. The shaft l2 carries at its outer end a hand wheel 21 which is utilized to tighten the fabric at the takeup end upon restarting the loom after a stop or period of rest.

A guard 28 protects those in proximity to the mechanism from the possibility of becoming engaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel adjacent the front of the loom and, although no particular physical injury is likely to be done, the teeth of the wheel are lubricated and thus contact therewith is undesirable.

A lay beam 29 is carried adjacent the upper ends of lay swords 30 and to these lay swords is attached in any convenient manner as illustrated, a bracket 3| upon which is oscillatably mounted a moving actuator 32. The bracket 3% attached to the forward sides of the lay swords is fixed thereto by suitable bolts 33, 34, Figs. 5 and 6, and this bracket has forwardly projecting therefrom a stud 35 upon which the actuator 32 is oscillatably carried. A'snap ring or washer 3t main tains the parts in position, although any other convenient mode of retaining them be enrployed.

The moving actuator comprises an arm 37 projecting upwardly from a hub 33 which is actually rotatably mounted on the stud 35, a forwardly projecting bunter 39 and, above that, a loop is to which is connected a reciprocating link 2-1, Fig. 6, the same being attached thereto by a shouldered bolt 42 fixed in the part d8 of the moving actuator.

The bracket 3! has an upper, arcuate guide and stop portion 43 having projecting stops M- and as at either end which limit the oscillatin; swing of the moving actuator, although the same is to a degree controlled by the center fork mechanism and other means presently to be described. The link 4! is normally urged to the right, Fig. 6, by a spring or springs which form a part of the center fork mechanism itself and which need not be described here. In opposition to the tendency to move the actuator to the right, a depending rod 46 functions by means of a finger s! clamped to the rod and adjustable along the length thereof by a set screw 48 passing through the hub 49 and bearing against the rod itself. This rod 46 is operated by cam mechanism on another part of the loom and serves through the finger 4! to draw down an arm 50 which is in turn a part of the moving actuator itself since it projects laterally from the hub as as shown and has a flattened portion 5| at its end upon which the end of the finger 4T bears. A guide 52 serves to retain the upper end of the rod in proper alignment so that the parts function as intended.

While the action of center fork mechanisms is well understood, it should suffice here to say that as the rod 46 moves downwardly, the moving actuator swings to the left, Fig. 6, and pulls the link 4! in the same direction against the tension of certain spring means which influence it. At that time the center fork cam causes the fork or feeling portion thereof to be raised preparatory to permitting the insertion of a pick of filling. In the event filling is present, the reverse movement of the parts causes the center fork to be lowered until it contacts the filling at which point its movement is arrested, the moving actuator by that time having been permitted to return in the opposite direction since the rod 45 will then move upwardly and the spring or springs influencing the rod 4| immediately causes that return oscillation of the parts. So long as the oil-ling is weseht nothing tit-"events the immeaiate return of "the actuator to the opposite side "or opposite extreme of its swir'ig, it being understood that at that time the lay mechanism will be moving forward toward beat-up since the pink of filling has been laid; and the hunter 39 will actually be in a position to the right of "an upwardly "extending arm 53 which is located at about the mid L'point of the oscillating path of the actuator and thus no contact between the hunter 39 and the arm '53 will occur.

However, .in the event that filling is not present as intended, the center 'fork mechanism 't'vill inove farther than would otherwise be the ease and incidentally, far enough to arrest the return movement of the par-ts in a iri'anner understood by those conversant with this art so that the aim 31 will be arrested in Enid position with the hunter 39 in alignment with arm 53 whereupon forward movement of the lay "causes the said 'a'l' ii-l to be moved throughout an angular extent about equivalent to that illustiated in Fig. 5, see the dotted and full line positions of this particular part.

The arm 53 attaches through its hub '54 to the inner end Of a Shaft 55 Whihji's borne in bearlugs 56 and '5'! in upwardly directed arms of a bracket 58 which is in turn bolted to a pad -9 form'ed at the upper surface of "one oi the cross,

structural members so of the loom tram ork.

A s rin 6| coiled about the shaft and restrained atone end against a part of the braoket 58 and at its other end behind a sores 62 threaded through collar 63 and hearing against shaft 55 serves to bias -the arm 53 in a direction so that it normally assumes a position shown in full lines, Fig. 5.

The movement of the arm is limited in either direction by ineans of stop mechanism including sto sorews 64 and 65 threaded through depending, divergent arins 56 and 67 integral with the arm 53 and its hllb 55 and bearing gainst a rojectinglu'g 58. These stop screws 64 and 65 are adjustable and are looked in position by loss nuts, t eesttent or movement or the arm 53 in either direction being governed by the point at which the said stop screws strike against the lug 58 thus providing adjust'ably for liiniting the movement of the entire linkage of which the arm 55 forms only a part.

NOW returning to Figs. 1 and 2 and also Figs. 3 and 3a, along the front oi the loom a shaft 59 is suitably guided in bearings and serves in knocking 'ofi the mom by throwing off a clutch and applying a brake, or in any other satisfae toiy manner, serves to disconnect the power and, if such is provided, applies a brake to st'ofi the loom more quickly. This shaft 69 is manually controlled or oscillated bit a manually operable arm or lever part 19 rojeoting upwardly from hub II, that hub being fixed to the end of shaft 69 and also having as a part thereof a denending aiI'n T2 the function of Whih will appear pres= ently.

This depending arm 72 serves when 'con'tatfi by the end of a link generally indieated b-y iiumeral i3 to swing shaft 69 so as to Knock off the loom, and also serves the added function of Withdrawing the stop pawl from the rateht Wheel H. This sto pawl indicated by numeral 14 is pivoted at the end of a stud :5 extending from the looinsid and. actually comprises a sort of hell Crank level the upwardly i'i'tending' arm 16 of Whih is provided With an adjustable abutinent SreW 11 which is engaged by the forward, fiat side of the aiin 12 to swine the bell erase B lever smiineidnt'zillii' the fiaifil 74 away from the to oft'n u not wheel es shown in Fig A s'ifir fig 181 tends to hold the pawl in engagement with the teeth oftheratohet wheel;

The link T3 i s'pivotd at T9 at the upper, forked one Of aim 8Q WhiCI'l is fiiie'd at the Outer end of the shaft; 55, it being understood that this shaft 55" is the some shaft" 130 which the previously nlntionediariii 53 is attached.

Swinging of the Shaft 55 above" described aii's's the 8D to ibllsh' the link 13 to a position Sii'Gh as that illustrated in Fig. 3 durin which movement the foiiiv afd or tip end 8| engages against the inolind iarwar'dly dire'oted surfae 82 at the lovl r hart of arm 12. link 13 gn idd in" "pathway such that it moves fol "lrdly and the end 8! at the same time is given a downward sweeping movinent so that after moving the a'ifii 72 as intended, it Clears the one of the am; That is, movement of the arm alon with the shaft 69 as the parts aie swung to their looiii sitoppilig; position causes these suffaces' at the initiation of the stoping inoveinent beonie' engaged, to recede or beoin separated to a, Considerable extent. An arm 61" other guide means 83 is pivoted at 84 on a 'Stlld of other projection fio'ni the loom'side and is; attached as at 85 there or less at the central l oitioil of the link 13, but since the arm 83 is relatively shoi't and is initially disposed as illustrated in Fig. 1 that it has a downward as Well as a folWifd movement, the combined action or pathway desoiibe'd by the pivots 19 and 85 is sul'i as to this end 8! 0f the link the desired movement.

The link itself is adjiistabl'e as to its length, and a so the one or tip nortion 8| a separate part thereof and is '15ivotd at 8B and spring pressed in a direction by means of a. coil spring 81 on end (if W'fiih is flied iii the central portioil of the" link one iih other end of Which is fixed in the sort 8! so-that' it normally tends to maintain parts in the position of Fig. 3. owever; there would be an interference between the loifiei'nio'st end of the arm 72 and this tip iibftiofi H of the link when the loom is started. 'I'hereiore; the artieiilatioii provides as just above desdrib'd permits movement of the manually Ciifitllld starting and knockoff lever to engage the oliitch, oi otherwis elfect such changes as are iedlliied to start; the loom. The curved or areuately io'riiieii uiopr surface of the tip 81 allowsthe arm 12 to pass without interference. However, at the first movement of the la to the rear; the parts including the link 13 are released and move to inaotiv'e position. At that tim the ortioiileteci tie he away from its normally aligned l'latio'iishifi rid thus slips past the arm 12'. If ot any time the parts are misaligned or the link 13 is ihovd partl to the rear as the starting lever isihov'd to start the loom, there be contact between arm 12 and the tip 8|, but that latter iii'eiiiloer will merely swing down to permit th parts to pass.

Now referring to Figs. 5- and s in particular, the means for latching the arm 53 and consed'uently; all of the meohani'sm' which functions therewith, inoluoesa pivoted latch generally indioatd by numeral 88 tenable of being; rooted about a pivot 89 whi h' is fixed in the arm. 53 intermediate the shaft and the end of the arm, this lover or latohin means inolucliiig a forwardly extending hooked arm at and a rear: wet-r1113"; di'retd; upwardly curved arm 9| which terminates in a latiallif oroieotine tripping ex- This tension 92. A spring 93 normally maintains the forward or hooked end of the latching means downwardly except as controlled by the interaction of a laterally directed lug 94 which bears upon the camlike surface 95 of an upwardly and forwardly extending projection 96, the latter preferably forming a part of bracket 58. Hooked end 90 engages with an abutment r cooperating latch member 91 which is in turn either formed as an integral part of the extension 96, or as herein shown, is more preferably attached thereto and is capable of being rocked or tipped slightly to facilitate interengagement and withdrawal of the hooked end 90.

A latch releasing member 98 preferably formed of bent wire serves to engage by means of its downwardly directed end 99, the part 92 of the latch member 83 and as the lay moves rearwardly, actually pulls in that direction and therefore tips downwardly that end of the latch releasing the hooked end SE! from the abutment 9T whereupon spring 6| will immediately swing the parts to their inactiv or rearmost position. As that occurs, the lug 95 rides along the cam surface 95 and elevates that end of the latch member so that following movement of the disconnecting member 98 as the lay swings to and fro will not effect any interference between the end 99 and the lateral extension 92. These parts contact only during the first rearward movement of the lay upon starting the 100m.

The fact that the intermediate mechanism remains latched until the first movement of the lay rearwardly insures against the reactuation of the knockoff means or, as would be experienced, the pulling of the starting lever out of the operators hand. That would occur otherwise since the lay might come forward with no filling having been laid.

From-what has been described to this point, it can be seen that the mechanism functions to stop the loom by knocking off the power and also withdraws the stop pawl at that time. The forward movement of the link 13 also effects withdrawal of the feed or advancing pawl l3 since the swinging movement of the arm 83 as the parts move to engage and actuate the arm it: also makes contact between an upwardly directed arm I09 of a second bell crank lever pivoted at Ill! and having a more or less horizontally directed arm I02 which is so disposed as to engage beneath a part of the pawl 13, or extending pin carried thereby, and the swinging movement imparted to this bell crank lever is sufficient to raise the pawl to position shown in Fig. 3. Thus it can be seen that withdrawal of the stop pawl is more or less simultaneously accompanied by a similar detachment of the feed pawl from its tooth-engaging relationship with the ratchet wheel. It is quite possible that the arm set may be engaged by some other part of the forwardly moving mechanism incidental to the performance of the knockoff function, although employment of the arm 83 for the purpose greatly simplifies the design and makes necessary a minimum of parts.

The tension in the fabric being woven will usually impart to the takeup means a reverse movement and it is intended that that shall occur, but in a restricted or controlled manner. If the fabric tension is not sufficient a letback spring as shown in U. S. Patent 1,849,221 may be used. Thus a controlled letback of the fabric is accomplished with each automatic filling stoppage of the loom mechanism and the degree to ,Fig. 1.

which the parts move in the reverse direction is governed by a letback pawl I93, Fig. 4, which is always maintained in engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth and which is under the influence of a spring I94. This pawl is attached at one end of a plunger I95 slideably retained in a guide member I06 which is in turn pivotally carried at [01 adjacent the loomside and in alignment with the ratchet wheel ii, the said guide Hi6 being urged counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 by means of a coil spring Hi8 so that the pawl always contacts the teeth of the wheel. Normally the spring HM under tension maintains the pawl and plunger in the position of At that time the wheel itself is moving counterclockwise and the teeth merely click past the pawl rocking it slightly on the pivot ifil. Stops in the forms of collars m9 and H0 limit the possible movement of the plunger H35 and in actual operation of the device, after withdrawal of the stop and feed pawls, the tension in the fabric reversely rotates the gearing and the wheel H as far as is permitted by the sliding movement of the plunger. Spring I [it is not sufficiently strong to resist that return movement and therefore permits the pawl to move one or more teeth illustrated in Fig. l, the position of the stop collar I99 limiting that movement so that by adjusting that collar, a definite amount of reverse movement is controlled to afford that letback action desired. As the parts are to be restarted, the letback pawl will again be moved to the position of Fig. 1 so that it is in readiness to perform its intended function repeatedly as often as the loom is stopped and started.

Now having described mechanism incidental to the preferred form of the invention, a brief resume of the operation will be given. Assuming that the loom is running and the parts are in the position of Fig. 1, the manually operated lever 19 may be employed to stop the loom. At such times the stop pawl M is withdrawn, but that makes no particular difference since as the loom is again started, the pawl is released to reengage the teeth of the ratchet wheel to serve its intended purpose.

When filling fails and the center fork indicates that failure, the moving actuator is so controlled that as the lay comes forwardly, the hunter 39 assumes a position in alignment with the top of lever 53 and contacts that lever to swing it and shaft 55 throughout an angular extent substantially equal to that illustrated in Fig. 5. That swinging movement will permit falling of the hooked end of the latch 83 and engagement of that hooked end with the abutment 9?. Other parts attached and functioning with the arm 53 then serve their intended purpose in the following manner.

As the shaft 55 swings throughout the limited angular extent illustrated, arm til moves the link 13 forwardly and that link through its tip or end 8! engages the depending arm "i2 and swings that arm and shaft 69 to knock off the loom and apply the brake, these resultant functions be ing incidental to mechanism not shown here, but very well understood by those skilled in the art.

As the link 73 moves forwardly, it engages the arm I09 thereby lifting the feed pawl it while the depending arm '52 more or less simultaneously engages the abutment screw ill on the arm 76 which is a connecting part of the stop pawl 14 and swings that member to inactive position thereby releasing the ratchet wheel H which s en described Ei i @2 t e is; han is iui e 'i o serving" "to dete l whet fi nceoflspr'ing 6| all return to their 'init riativelylnactive position. Downward I nt provided for" the articulated end 8] ofth'link I3 permits the tip to' Swing past ar in'ljz without interference. In thatpositidn they at 'soith'at' a succeeding 'fill'ing'failur'e will i the "operation to stop the loom again. lhes ngwhicheontrolsthe latch 38' isfrelatiiiely s all; while",the spring 6! hassufficient'stren t o force all of thepart's totheir' inactive p As the lever 51 moves rearwardly', the" lug 4 rides'up the cam surface 95 thereby movin latch to an inactive position amass jthere canflbe no int'e'* ference .betwee tli ok Q99 and'the abutment 92, itbeing" odQthat these parts-do not closely approach each'iother during normal operation of'ltlie'niec an inj butffunction jonly' to reset the device asbecome'latched'incidental,to a.l oom'stop.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to .be understood that the inventive concept inaygbecarried out in a number of ways, This lap lcation'is, therefore, not to be limited 'to ecise details" described, but is intended tooover lljvariations and modifications thereof fal g within the spirit of the i n o a hess n oi the c ai We claim:

.1. In a loom having a lay, a lmockon mecham-ine ud n .inmh naii ne m n act carried by said lay and having a pathway which a i in a o den W 2hih Ii iQ a pick of fillin laid by ,dll9 m, knockoif mean and means for interconnecting said actuator and knockoff means to impart hmovement of'the former to the latter t stop the loom upon filling failure which compr anoscillatable shaft, an arm at one end of; aid shaft normally out "of line with said moving .tuatorasit moves with said lay when filling i H ally present,.butpositioned to be engaged eby upon failure of filling at any page l means for said'arm for retaining it in an me position when 7 moved upon engagement, id' actuator a second arm on said shaftand ns carried thereby and guided forjcontact ,vvi said ilzfnoclgoff means for moving the latter to .a po 's'i'ti on tolcfause stopping of the 100m uponlmet aent im fi ii m wa latched position.

:2. In a,i iohmilian iaahyse l egelse mess nismincliiclinsyhm.qomb iiimlunq lin fiiill if loom.

tioned tobe engaged thereby upon failure of filling at any'pickfalatch means for said arm for ietainingitin an extreme position when moved upon engagement by said actuator, a second arm on said shaft and; means "carried thereby and guided for contact with said knockoff means for moving the latter to'a position to cause stopping of the loom upon "movement'oi the first arm to a'latched'position and means carried by said'lay forreleasingsaid latchmeans upon starting the 3 -In a loom having a lay, a knockoff mechanism'including in combination a moving actuator carried by said layand having a pathway which varies in accordance withthe condition of a pick of filling laid by said loom, knockofi' means and means for 'interconnectingsaid actuator and knockoff means to impart movement of the former to the latter to stop the loom upon filling failure which c'omprisesan oscillatable shaft, resilient means for b'iasing said shaft in one direction,"an arm at one'end 'of said shaft normally out of line with said moving actuator as it moves with said lay when filling' i's normally present, but positioned to be engaged ftherebyiupon failure of filling at any pick; alatch means for said'arm'for retaining it in an extremepo'sition when moved upon engagement by said iactuator, a" second arm on said shaft and means carried thereby 'and guided for contact with said Y knockoff means for moving the latter to a p ositionto cause stopping of the loom upon movement of the first'arm to a latched position. U

4. In a loom having a lay, a knockoff mechanism including in combination a, moving actuator carriedl' by said lay and havi'ng a'pathway which varies in accordance with the condition of a'pick of filling laid bysaid'loom,' knockoff means and means for interconnecting said actuator and knockofi mes ns't'o "impart movement of the former to the latter tost'op the loom upon filling failure which comprises'an oscillatable shaft, r silient means for biasing" said shaft in one direction; an'arm at one endofsaid shaft normally out of line with said moving'actuator as it moves with said lay when filling" i's' normally present, but positioned to be engagedthereby upon failure of filling at any pick, alatch means for saidarm for retaining it in an extreme position when moved upon engagement by said actuator, a second arm on said shaft, alink pivoted atone end to said second arm andhaving its opposite end aligned forengagem'ent with'saidknockoff means and a pivoted arm connected tosaid link intermediate its ends for guiding it in a prescribed pathway. 5, In aloom having aqlay, algnockoff mechanism including in combination a moving actuator carried by said lay and having a pathway which varies in accordance iwitli the condition of apick of filling laid by said loom," knockoff means and means for interconnecting "said actuator and knockoffmeans ,to impart movement of the former to the latter to stop the loom'upon'filling an l whi ci eri la Si. 1et b shag-it accasee Y 11 V silient means for biasing said shaft in one direction, an arm at one end of said shaft normally out of line with said moving actuator as it moves with said lay when filling is normally present, but positioned to be engaged thereby upon failure of filling at any pick, a latch means for said arm for retaining it in an extreme position when moved upon engagement by said actuator, a second arm on said shaft, a link pivoted at one end to said second arm and having its opposite end aligned for engagement with said knockoff means and a pivoted arm connected to said link intermediate its ends and having its pivot and angular disposition toward the link so disposed as to cause the end of the link which contacts the knockoff means to swing away from that means after moving it substantially to a loom stopping position.

6. In a loom having a lay, a knockoff mechanism including in combination a moving actuator carried by said lay and having a pathway which varies in accordance with the condition of a pick of filling laid by said loom, knockoff means and means for interconnecting said actuator and knockoff means to impart movement of the former to the latter to stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises an oscillatable shaft, an arm at one end of said shaft normally out of line with said moving actuator as it moves with said lay when filling is normally present, but positioned to be engaged thereby upon failure of filling at any pick, a latch means for said arm for retaining it in an extreme position when moved upon engagement by said actuator, a second arm on said shaft and means including a link one end of which is pivoted to said second arm for moving the knockoff means to a loom stopping position upon movement of the first lever to a latched position, and an arm pivoted to a fixed part of the loom and to the link intermediate its ends and so disposed as to guide the end of the link which contacts the knockoff means out of contact with that means when both have moved to a loom stop ping position, said link end, however, being so disposed as to interfere with the knockoff means after it has been moved to loom starting position, and means forming a part of the link for permitting the end thereof to be deflected to clear said knockoff means when the parts are returned to their normally inactive position.

'7. Mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for permitting the end of the link to deflect comprises an articulated end of the link and a resilient means normally effective for maintaining said articulated end in alignment with the remainder of the link.

8. In a loom having a lay, a knockoff meshanism including in combination a moving actuator carried by said lay and having a pathway which varies in accordance with the condition of a pick of filling laid by said loom, a knockoff means comprising among other elements a shaft and a manually operable lever having a depending arm, and means for interconnecting said actuator and knockoff means to impart movement of the former to the latter to stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises an oscillatable shaft, an arm fixed at one end thereof out of line with the normal pathway of the actuator as it is moved with the lay when filling is present as intended, but positioned to be engaged by said actuator upon failure of filling at any pick, a latch means for retaining said arm and interconnected means in that extreme position to which they are moved by said actuator, said latch means comprising a spring urged, pivoted catch carried by the said arm and a complementary, fixed abutment positioned to be engaged by said catch, a second arm fixed to said shaft and a link pivoted thereto and guided for engagement with the depending arm of said manually operable lever, and means carried by said lay for releasing said catch from said abutment as the loom is restarted.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 8whereinsaid catch comprises a lever pivoted to said arm and having at one end a hook for engagement with said abutment and at the opposite end a lateral projection for engagement by said releasing means, a spring for urging said catch into latching position, a stop for limiting its movement in that direction, and said releasing means comprises a hooked projection attached to said lay and positioned to engage said lateral projection when the lay first moves rearwardly upon restarting the loom.

10. In a loom having a lay, a knockoff mechanism including in combination a moving actuator carried by said lay and having a'pathway which varies in accordance with the condition of a pick of filling laid by said loom, a knockoif means comprising among other elements a shaft and a manually operable lever having a depending arm, and means for interconnecting said actuator and knockoff means to impart movement of the former to the latter to stop the loom upon filling failure which comprises an oscillatable shaft, an arm fixed at one end of said shaft out of line with the normal pathway of the actuator as it is moved with the lay when filling is present as intended, but positioned to be engaged by said actuator upon failure of filling at any pick, adjustable stop means also fixed to said shaft for limiting the oscillatory motion of said shaft and arm, a latch means for retaining said arm and interconnecting means in that extreme position to which they are moved by said actuator, a second arm fixed to said shaft and a link pivoted to said arm and movable thereby in a pathway to contact and move a knockoff means to loom stopping position.

ll. A combined knockoff and letback mechanism for looms having a lay, a fabric takeup ratcheting means including a ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl and a stop pawl, a moving actuator, and a manually movable knockoff lever having an arm extending from a knockoff shaft, which knockoff and letback mechanism includes an oscillatable shaft, an arm fixed thereto engageable by said moving actuator upon filling failure, means to latch said arm in a loom knockoff position, a second arm fixed to said shaft and a link one end of which is pivoted to said second arm, the other end being aligned for engagement with the said arm extending from said knockoff shaft, an arm pivoted to a fixed part of the loom and to a point intermediate the ends of said link for guiding its free end in a prescribed pathway, a lever pivoted adjacent said link and having one arm engaged by a means projecting from said link and its other arm engageable with said advancing pawl for withdrawing it from active engage ment with said ratchet wheel, an arm extending from said stop pawl and having an abutment at its free end engaged by the arm extending from the knockofi shaft to withdraw that pawl from the ratchet wheel when the loom is stopped, and a spring controlled means for limiting the angular extent of reverse movement of the ratchet wheel when said pawls have been withdrawn.

l2. Mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein the means for limiting reverse movement of the ratchet wheel comprises a pawl engageable with the teeth of said wheel and movable throughout a limited extent with relation to a pivoted guide means therefor, and spring means normally maintaining said pawl in a position wherein, when the loom is stopped, the ratchet wheel and pawl may move reversely throughout a distance provided by the movement permitted.

13. Mechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein the means for limiting reverse movement of the ratchet wheel comprises a bearing means pivoted adjacent the periphery of said ratchet wheel, a member slideable in said bearing means and a pawl at one end of said member engageable with teeth of the ratchet wheel, spring means to rock said bearing means on its pivot to maintain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth, stops for limiting the sliding movement of said member in said bearing means, and a spring for maintaining the pawl in advanced position, but yieldable to permit it to retract when the loom is stopped and letback occurs.

14. A ratchet wheel actuating and letback means for fabric takeups in looms which comprises advancing and stop pawls for the ratchet wheel and means including a swinging arm to which the advancing pawl is pivoted and oscillating means therefor, pawl lifting means operable when the loom is knocked on" and a letback control pawl which comprises bearing means pivoted adjacent the periphery of said ratchet Wheel, a member slideable in said bearing means and a pawl at one end of said member engageable with teeth of the ratchet wheel, spring means to rock said bearing means on its pivot to maintain the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel teeth, stops for limiting the sliding movement of said member in said bearing means, and a spring for maintaining the pawl in advanced position, but yieldable to permit it to retract when the loom is stopped and letback occurs.

WALTER J. BUDZYNA.

WALDO H. BANKS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 821,600 Victory May 22, 1906 1,865,930 Lindsjo July 5, 1932 

